I work with the young women (teenage girls) in my neighborhood church group. We have an amazing program called Personal Progress that teaches the youth to make goals and commitments, to follow through with them and report their progress.

After unsuccessfully searching pinterest for the handout I had in mind, I created these little reminders for the girls. I am sharing it here with you.

Carved Afghanistan Lapis flower with a matte finish. Accented beautifully with rustic leather, sterling silver and a turquoise charm. Designed by Sunlight Silver.

Lapis Lazuli is a beautiful navy blue gem. It is valued it for its vivid, exquisite color, and loved as much as other blue gems like sapphire and turquoise. Lapis contains various minerals, mostly lazurite, calcite (white), sodalite (blue) and pyrite (fools' gold, a metallic yellow). Lapis lazuli's value decreases with the presence of white patches (calcite), while small veins of pyrite (like stars in a nighttime sky!) increase it's value.

Top quality lapis lazuli comes from Afghanistan where is has been mined for more than 6000 years, but is also found in Siberia, Chile, the U.S., Pakistan, and Canada. Lapis was prized by the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome.